Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam was born in 1919 in Gujranwala (now in Pakistan). She was considered as the first renowned Punjabi women poet, novelist and essayist. She migrated to India after the Partition in 1947. In 1948 she became famous with her poem ‘Aaj Aakhaan Waris Shas Noo’ which indicates the horrors of Partition of 1947. Most of her books are translated into English, French, Japanese and Urdu.

Amrita was the first women to receive the Sahitya Akademi award for ‘Sunehray’ in 1956. She was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1969, the Bhartiya Jnanpith for her novel Kagaj te Canvas in 1983 and the Padma Vibhusan in 2004. She was also a member of Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1992. She died on 31st October 2005 after a prolonged sickness.